BOOKSSoul Surgery now available in paperback! This manual on personal evangelism is the earliest Oxford Group text and offers much insight into the 12th step practice of working with others. Buy a copy here or read it free as a download below.

Manuscript Pages
Sample pages from the working manuscript of the Big Book of alcoholics anonymous

Time Line of 12 Step History
Articles describing the invention and development of the 12 Steps from the Oxford Group to the modern recovery movement. Gives historical background that supports the article “Three Views of Recovery.”

ARTICLES

Three Views of Recovery
Describes three alternate, and not always complimentary, approaches to understanding the 12 Steps. You may have heard a variety of opinions in meetings about what the step are and how they work; this article should help explain these opinions. The time line above explains the historical roots of these different views.

Four Types of Moral Inventory
Examines the Four Absolutes, Big Book resentment inventory, the 4th Step described in the 12×12, and one of Hazelden’s guides to the 4th Step. Suggests there is a difference between “Ideal” and “Introspective” inventory writing.

God, as we understood him
Recovery narrative by the webmaster of this site, discussing his experience with “coming to believe”.

Gresham’s Law and Alcoholic’s Anonymous
An excellent critique of the state of modern AA from a historical, and spiritual, perspective. A must read for folks new to the history of the 12 steps. This entry provides links to several places where the article can be read online.

Spiritual Diagnosis, by Henry Drummond
Article by a forerunner of the Oxford Group. In this article, which was a source of inspiration for Soul Surgery (see above), he explains his approach to personal evangelism.

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Hi. I was very suprised to see Dick B and the Orange Papers together on your web-site. I do although think both perspectives are important. It’s just that the Orange Papers run across the grain of the rest of your web-site. Interesting.

I really appreciate combining the Orange Paper opposition to AA so it can be studied and stand (or more likely fall) on its own comments, rather than third hand from those it offends. Contempt prior to invesitgation and all that.

Stepstudy.org is a new discovery for me and has quickly moved into my top five websites – not just recovery, but my top five websites, period.

Sometimes you just have to hold your nose when you are in search of free expression of views and facts. I’d much rather see my site in company with Orange, history lovers, the Bobgans, and cult or cure than be constrained by some moderator’s view of what people in recovery ought or ought not to see or hear. Here’s for tolerance–not “moderation.”

Vic, on February 12, expressed a vew which could keep all serious AAs in the tent. It could also enable those who are Christians and appreciate the Original “old school” A.A. approach to do what I have done–stick with A.A., ask God’s help, refrain from drinking, and (yes) go to thousands of meetings. Above all, in the A.A. approach, to help the still suffering newcomer who is desperately seeking a way out. Why not let it go at that? Instead of grinding away at theology, religion, Bill’s shortcomings, and apologetics. God either is, or He isn’t–as Bill put it. And today there are lots in A.A. who will argue it either way. God Bless, Dick B.

Soul Surgery was first published in India I believe. A copy was very expensive and hard to come by. I’d sure recommend it to anyone who wants to see the first significant Oxford Group book. It was penned by Walter, Wright, and Buchman in parts. It certainly lays out the five C’s which are the heart of the middle A.A. Steps. Good for Step Study in making it available now.

What a wonderful resource! I’ve been sober and straight for almost 30 years, and just started to look at what’s online instead of reading my books – probably because there is no room left in the margins for notes lol! I’m excited to see that so much has developed and is available. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.

Linda’s remarks are heartwarming. It has been my experience in the last 10 years that the action is online. Not all good. Not all easy reading. Not all accurate. But offering such a wide variety of options that one could spend the rest of his or her life learning A.A. origins, history, founding, original program, and successes by clicking on google. The deluge of phone calls and emails I receive about questions and programs and books tells me people are surfing! Big time.

Whenever one purports to write about the origins of A.A., it short-changes the article when so much emphasis is placed on the Oxford Group. There were in fact some sixteen influences on the A.A. program. And the discussion should start with the Bible, Quiet Time, conversion, reading of literature and devotionals, Anne Smith’s Journal, Dr. William Silkworth, Professor William James, Carl Jung, Lay therapist Richard Peabody, hospitalization, fellowship, the teachings of Rev. Samue M. Shoemaker who was called a cofounder of A.A. by Wilson, the 28 Oxford Group principles that impacted on A.A., and the all important element of witnessing–working with others–focusing on the newcomer.

Great to see ALL the info here. I agree with Dick B., The Orange Papers should be read- I don’t agree with his conclusion- but they deserve to be here as much as Dick’s Jesus talk. Balance is sobriety, sanity. I will post some history for your site on the birth, 30 years ago, of the Big Book Step Study movement within A.A. That movement began a Fellowship wide return of AA groups to meetings solely focused on Big Book Recovery by adopting and following a disciplined group conscience: Oddly just like the original first AA meeting- The Borton group- in Cleveland. In 1981 AA meetings in New England were so far to the other extreme- no mention of God anymore, no prayers after wards,no mention of the Big book, it was all, ” Just don’t drink today and go to a meeting”. Big Book Step Study AA meetings turned out to be the antidote and balance to that weak AA message and group that dominated AA at the time.

And, Billy S., whoever you are, just what is the “Jesus talk?” Stick to the facts, and people will be blessed if and when you state and report them correctly. There is enough history to go around without obviously insulting remarks.

Nothing so small that it cannot be seen nor so large that it cannot be encompassed and yet …that I can perceive, even dimly, the expanse of all “creation” it is not necessary for me to know anything more than that. That I exist somehow allows me to conceive a higher power that believes in me. God. That’s all I need to satisfy my AA program.

Stopping by for a look-see. Because I know so many of the people named in the by-lines, I drop by this site occasionally. I also post occasionally. I cannot say I agree with every direction the site takes or every comment made. But that’s true for AA itself, for alcoholics, for churches, and for politicians. However, it’s always tough when ad hominem attacks and criticisms appear. And that’s pretty rare on this site. It’s rampant on a very few others that also purvey history.

When I see the finger pointing, I remember the two rules that are helpful.(1) Whenever one points a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at him. (2) More directly applicable to an AA is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount–which early AAs considered absolutely essential to their program. And, the words or gist of Matthew 7:1-5 appear with some frequency in early A.A. comments. The verses say:”Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye. Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

For those who look at our history before they jump, just look at the Oxford Group expressions which crept into our Big Book and Steps. Mainly, look for the injunction that suggests: “What was our part.”

Pardon those of us who look to the Scriptures, as early AAs did. But when asked about the program, Dr. Bob’s usual response was “What does it say in the Good Book?”

Well, I might have liked this site until I followed the Big Book Videos link to the Plymouth House assisted videos where members who reveal their faces and first names break Tradition 11 – please review your content here and ask yourselves if the whole of AA may be being harmed by some of the content of this site.